Jeremy Casey

Brendan Moloney admits the Cobblers have too often failed to take their chances to close in on the play-off pack in recent weeks.

The right-back was in downbeat mood following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Stevenage, admitting that the club’s top seven chances are all but over despite their still being a mathematical chance.

We have conceded bad goals, we haven’t kept enough clean sheets recently, and in the final third our final pass or final shot hasn’t been good enough. That’s it really, and all of us on the pitch have to take responsibility

Brendan Moloney

And he feels that the Cobblers have failed to make the most of the ‘big opportunities’ that have come their way.

Town have picked up just four points out of the past 18 available.

They lost at home to relegation strugglers Carlisle United and Cambridge United, lost 2-1 against 10-men at Bury after having led 1-0, and again let slip a 1-0 half-time lead at Stevenage on Saturday.

Speaking after the Stevenage defeat, Moloney said: “It is a massive blow.

“In the past couple of weeks we have had big opportunities to close the gap and gain on teams, but we haven’t taken them.

“It’s not mathematically over, so we do keep going and we will look to try and get two wins against Oxford and Cheltenham and see where it takes us, but we know that’s a tough ask.”

Asked where it has all gone wrong in recent weeks, Moloney added: “We have conceded bad goals, we haven’t kept enough clean sheets recently, and in the final third our final pass or final shot hasn’t been good enough.

“That’s it really, and all of us on the pitch have to take responsibility.

“We are all bitterly disappointed, because we know there was a big chance for us, and we haven’t taken it.

“We were 1-0 up at half-time despite playing poorly in the first half at Stevenage, and we should win the game from there.